Dental floss package



June 18, 1963 F. w. KRUPP 3,094,209

DENTAL FLOSS PACKAGE Filed June 8, 1962 mvENToR: /g FREDERICK W KRUPP www ATTYS'.

United States Patent() 3,094,209 DENTAL FLOSS PACKAGE Frederick W. Krupp, Princeton, NJ., assigner to Gudobrod Brothers Silk Co., Inc., Pottstown, Pa., a corporation of Pennsylvania Filed June 8, 1962, Ser. No. 201,105 3 Claims. (Cl. 206-63.5)

This invention relates toa dental oss package .and has tor an object the provision of improvements in this art.

Dental floss is at present sold in packages containing continuous lengths of material, some with and some without cutting ldevices for severing desired lengths as` needed.

When cutting devices are not provided with the packages it is often difficult to obtain :a length wanted because cutting tools may not be available and the material is diicult to sever otherwise.

When cutting devices are provided with the packages they are often unsatisfactory initially or become clogged with wax or otherw1se get out of order in use. The fact that such packaging and cutting practices are not very satisfactory is indicated by the fact that a great number 4and variety of :such packages have appeared Jon the market.

ln addition to the inherent objections to such packages in use, is the fact that the provision of cutting devices adds considerably to the cost of the package and, besides, the various forms of cutting devices may require some education or skill on the part of the user.

According to the present invention, a package is provided for dispensing dental floss thread in pre-cut lengths convenient for use.

It is an object of the invention to provide a package containing a number of strands =or lengths off dental floss.

Another object is to provide such -a package which will permit 4the removal of one strand or length only without pulling out or .tangling the remaining lengths.

Another object is to provide Ia neat and sanitary package which is easy to carry :and which can be reclosed after :a length of material has been Withdrawn.

Another object is to provide such a package which is simple and inexpensive to manufacture and prep-are for market.

Another object is to provide `such a package which includes means for hanging it up in :a convenient place, as on a hook or nail in a bathroom.

Another obje-ct is to provide such a package with closure means which is easy to open and which will stay close-d between uses without requiring lany auxiliary fastening or securing means.

The above and other objects of the invention, as Well Ias various novel features and advantages, will be apparent from the following description of `an exemplary embodiment, reference being made to the accompanying drawings thereof, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a front elevation of a linished package as it would be sold, parts inside being shown in broken or phantom lines;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged longitudinal section taken on the line 2 2 yof FIG. l;

FIG. 3 is a front elevation of an enclosure card or core carrying a bunch or bundle of lengths of dental tioss as the card would iappear if removed from the complete package assembly;

FIG. 4 is a front elevati-on of the cover or envelope as it would appear if removed from the complete assembly or package; and

FIG. 5 is an isometric front view showing the manner of removing a length of floss when the package is supported on a hook or nail.

The invention can more easily be understood by irst referring to FIG. 3 which shows a relatively stiff card provided with at least one and preferably a plurality of "ice holes 11 through which a bundle or bunch of separate lengths 12 of dental floss is threaded. Another hole 13 is shown at the top of the card but this hole is preferably made by punching through :the finished package, Whereas the holes 11 are punched in the card initially to permit the lengths yof dental lloss in a bundle to be threaded through them in packaging.

The bundle is `threaded .through `the hole or holes 11 so as to have long ends 12a and short ends 12b. The advantage of using two laterally spaced holes is that the bundle is spread out laterally to make fa thinner package than if one hole were used and the ends were disposed one Vbehind the other behind land in front of the card. The advantage of having one end longer than the other is that the long end can be made accessible for pulling strands out of an `opening in the package While the short end remains concealed and inaccessible.

Here-in a third hole 11 is shown in the card, this third hole being located below the bend, bight, loop, or fold of the bundle and having the short end threaded through it. Threading the strands through several holes puts additional tension on :the strand being pulled out and aids in preventing other str-ands from being entrained and pulled out or tangled.

lf desired, eyelets 14- with round edges may be secured in the holes l1 to minimize binding of the thread and also to minimize scraping off 'the wax and other substances carried by :the iioss. It may be desirable to provide substances on the floss which are beneficial to the teeth, for example fluorides and the like.

When two upper holes are present at lthe bend, loop, or night of the strands and one is present therebelow, las shown, the short end of the bundle is threaded through the lower hole to the back of the card to conceal it further and make it more inaccessible to being pulled out. The long end is on the front of the card Where the 4strands will be accessible.

The package also comprises a cover or envelope 16 for the card, the envelope in open form including a back panel 17, top end tab `18, bottom end tab 19, inner front tab or panel 20, and outer front tab or panel 21. The top end tab 13 has a fold line 22 with the back panel; the bottom end tab 19 has a `fold line 23; the inner front tab 20 has a fold line 24; and the outer front tab 21 has a fold line 25.

Glue areas 27 are provided on the top, bottom and outer front panels at suitable places and at some appropriate 4time during assembly.

An inner closure flap 28 is provided on the inner front tab 20 and an outer closure tiap 29 is provided on the outer front tab 21, each being a part `of the tab body or sheet :and -delineated by weakened lscored or serrated lines 30. The outer li-ap 29 is made wider vertically than the inner llap 28 so as to cover and conceal it and avoid direct lines of opening to the interior when the flaps are closed.

The cover or envelope is made of relatively thin rnaterial and, if desired, may be transparent. One nontransparent material which has given satisfaction is paper having a metal foil lamina adhered to the outside. This holds its shape well and when the closure aps are closed they tend to stay closed.

Holes 13a, 13b, 13C and 13d are shown in the back panel 17 and tabs 1S, 20 and Z1 respectively, these holes registering with the top support hole 13 of the card and preferably all being made by a single punching operation after the package has been folded up. :If desired, an eyele-t 31 may be secured in the aligned holes to take a support nail or hook. The adhesive area 2.7 on the top end tab holds the top of the card in position but the eyelet 31 makes the attachment stronger and more secure by uniting all thicknesses of material at the top end.

In the finished package the ends of the longer portions of the bent strands preferably extend down below the lower edges of the closure flaps 28 and 29 so that when a front opening is made by pulling the flaps back along the lines of weakening 30 the strand ends will not come out unless pulled out. This keeps the package neat and allows the llaps to be closed back over the opening and to remain closed better.

FIG. shows how a strand 12 is pulled out when the front closure aps 28 and 29 are opened, the package here being supported on a hook 32 through fthe hole 13 etc. and its eyelet 31.

In manufacture, assuming that the enclosure card 1t? with holes 11 and the envelope 16 with all portions except the holes 13a etc. are provided and with the envelope in unfolded condition as shown in FIG. 4, the bundle of oss thread lengths 12 is threaded through the holes 11 in the card in the manner shown in FIG. 3.

The card is then laid down on the top of the back panel 17 of the envelope with its top edge at the fold line 23. The inner front ftab 20 is folded down over the top of the card.

Next, in order, the top tab y18, the bottom tab 19, and the outer front tab 21 are folded over and glued in place.

Alternatively, the top and bottom tabs 18 and 19 can be folded over before the inner front tab Ztl is folded over and in this case the top of the card is adhesively held by the top tab 18.

The manner of applying the glue can be varied to suit manufacturing conditions. Glue spots which require moistening can be pre-applied; or glue can be applied as needed; or naturally adhesive spots can be pre-applied. Moreover, the glue areas shown are merely suggestive and may he varied. For example, for complete sealing the entire ap areas may be glued.

The package is now complete except that if the top support hole 13 etc. is wanted, it is punched through the assembly; and if the eyelet 31 is wanted, it is applied.

In use, the outer ap 29 is torn back along its scored lines and the inner flap 28 is torn back along its scored lines to provide a front lower opening 33, as shown in FIG. 5. Then a strand 12 can be pulled out in the manner illustrated, the bottom end first being pulled out and then the threaded upper portion pulled out.

The floss used in fthe package is treated with wax and the Wax finish helps to keep the strands from tangling as they are pulled out.

With the rwax or in addition to the rwax, the oss strands preferably are treated with materials which reduce tooth decay. Fluorides in almost any compatible form and in `any acceptable dosage may be used. Some substances which can be used are stannous fluoride, sodium uoride, and the like. Hexachlorophene also may be incorporated for its benefit to the gums, and this with or without the inclusion of fluorides.

Since some wax remains between the teeth after the use of dental oss it is a distinct advantage to obtain beneficial treatment along with the wax.

Although the wax used may be pure beeswax, there are other types of animal, vegetable or mineral waxes that can be used. A few examples are paranes, bleached montan, carnauba and bayberry.

1t is found that strands can thus be pulled out one by one until the complete supply is exhausted Without entanglement.

The invention is thus seen to provide a simple, convenient and inexpensive package of dental floss in lengths (which can be varied) for convenient use without waste; also a package which is quite thin and convenient to carry; also a package which is easy and inexpensive to manufacture; and a package which is sanitary, neat, easy to open and close, and easy in obtaining a strand of oss.

While one embodiment of the invention has been described for purposes of illustration, it is to be understood that there may be various embodiments and modifications within the general scope of the invention.

I claim:

il. A dental floss package comprising an elongated, sheetlike card, means defining a plurality of openings in said card, at least two of said openings being laterally spaced and at least one opening spaced lengthwise from said laterally spaced openings, a bundle of strands threaded through said openings to provide rst segments of the strands disposed on one side of the card and second segments of the strands disposed on the opposite side of the card and laterally spaced from said rst segments, an envelope completely enclosing said card and said strand bundle, means securing said card in a predetermined ixed position in said envelope, said envelope including confronting overlying panels forming one side thereof, and means defining an access opening at an end of the envelope opposite the end thereof to which the card is xed, said access opening exposing only the segments of strands on one side of said card at a portion spaced from their free ends.

2. A dental lloss package as set forth in claim 1, wherein said envelope on one side includes oppositely directed overlapping pivotally mounted tabs, each having an edge-scored tear ap constituting overlapping closure elements for the opening made when the flaps are torn back.

3. A `dental floss package as set forth in claim 2, wherein the outer closure flap is wider than the inner flap so as to cover the inner flap and stagger the tear lines to avoid a direct edge opening when the closure ilaps are reclosed.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 674,307 Quinn May 14, 1901 975,205 Booth Nov. 8, 1910 2,590,799 Solowey Mar. 25, 1952 2,611,526 George Sept. 23, 1952 2,822,118 Will Feb. 4, 1958 fig." 

1. A DENTAL FLOSS PACKAGE COMPRISING AN ELONGATED, SHEET-LIKE CARD, MEANS DEFINING A PLURALITY OF OPENINGS IN SAID CARD, AT LEAST TWO OF SAID OPENINGS BEING LATERALLY SPACED AND AT LEAST ONE OPENING SPACED LENGTHWISE FROM SAID LATERALLY SPACED OPENINGS, A BUNDLE OF STRANDS THREADED THROUGH SAID OPENINGS TO PROVIDE FIRST SEGMENTS OF THE STRANDS DISPOSED ON ONE SIDE OF THE CARD AND SECOND SEGMENTS OF THE STRANDS DISPOSED ON THE OPPOSITE SIDE OF THE CARD AND LATERALLY SPACED FROM SAID FIRST SEGMENTS, AN ENVELOPE COMPLETELY ENCLOSING SAID CARD AND SAID STRAND BUNDLE, MEANS SECURING SAID CARD IN A PREDETERMINED FIXED POSITION IN SAID ENVELOPE, SAID ENVELOPE INCLUDING CONFRONTING OVERLYING PANELS FORMING ONE SIDE THEREOF, AND MEANS DEFINING AN ACCESS OPENING AT AN END OF THE ENVELOPE OPPOSITE THE END THEREOF TO WHICH THE CARD IS FIXED, SAID ACCESS OPENING EXPOSING ONLY THE SEGMENTS OF STRANDS ON ONE SIDE OF SAID CARD AT A PORTION SPACED FROM THEIR FREE ENDS. 